Supports Estelle

To the editor —

I recently had the pleasure of coming back to Palmer to spend several days at the Alaska State Fair, and it was great to be back home. Having lived in Palmer from my years at Sherrod Elementary School through my graduation from Palmer High School, it is wonderful to see how well Palmer has done over the years and what a wonderful place it still is.

I have been confused and saddened by the news that a great public servant, a lifelong Alaskan and proud son of Palmer, has been mischaracterized by an errant panel of state government. District Court Judge Bill Estelle is hardworking, honest, and highly qualified judicial officer with the Alaska Court System. He has served admirably for over a decade on the District Court bench, and has heard over 60,000 cases during that time. I am an attorney, and I know how hard District Court judges have to work, with really large caseloads and without the benefits of a law clerk, which Superior Court judges enjoy.

Last year, Judge Estelle discovered that he had mistakenly signed routine pay affidavits stating that he had no overdue cases before him. As soon as he realized his error, he immediately reported the situation to the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct, which considered what he had done and recommended what it considered an appropriate penalty, and specifically finding that Judge Estelle did not act intentionally in signing the inaccurate pay affidavits, and that during the time the two cases were overdue, he had excellent character and reputation and no dishonest or selfish motives.

I have been an attorney for over a decade and I know that recommending that a judge not be retained is the harshest and most extreme action the Alaska Judicial Council can take. I am shocked to see this recommendation that voters not keep Judge Estelle on the bench. I have no idea what is behind the Judicial Council’s action, but I know it is bad advice and strongly believe that the people of the Third Judicial District should vote to keep Judge Estelle on the bench, where he will continue to do a great job serving the people of Alaska.

Benjamin Brown

Juneau